Marguerite Lucienne Osborne passed away peacefully in the morning hours of May 4th, 2026, in Laramie, Wyoming. Marguerite was 90 years young. Marguerite resided at the Laramie Rehabilitation Center for the final two years of her life, where she was showered with humanity, love, and respect by the caregivers and staff alike. Marguerite enjoyed getting to know everyone, sharing her chocolates or cookies, taking communion, telling stories, FaceTiming with her granddaughter Lexi, and listening to classical music.

Marguerite was born in France into a Breton family on September 10th, 1935, to Renee Lucienne and Marthurin Chevalier. Marguerite was the eldest of three children. At just five-years-old, Marguerite experienced the Second World War. The hardships of war and her father’s absence contributed to her strong character, independence, and appreciation for service members in uniform. Marguerite’s secondary education at the lycée in Saint-Brieuc allowed her to leave the family at eighteen to work as an au pair in Ireland, perfecting her English. Upon her return to the family, Marguerite put her skills to good use by finding a job at the American base in Chaumont, France, where she met and married Harold Osborne. 

Harold and Marguerite were blessed with four children throughout their marriage: Gwenola, Gwendolyn, Aubry, and Gaelle. After France, Marguerite and Harold spent a few years in Florida before returning to Europe, settling in Wiesbaden, Germany, which offered more opportunities to spend time with Marguerite’s family. When Harold’s orders came in for the Vietnam war, Marguerite and her children returned to Marguerite’s mother’s house in Langueux. Following the Vietnam War, Marguerite, Harold, and their children relocated to Rapid City, SD, settling near Ellsworth Air Force Base, where Harold was stationed.

Marguerite and Harold divorced shortly after coming to South Dakota, but Marguerite chose to stay in Rapid City to raise her children. Marguerite loved the Black Hills, the National Parks, the wildlife, the Native American culture, and the Rapid City community. Marguerite passed along her passion for the Black Hills area to her children and grandchildren. 

Marguerite’s passion for languages motivated her to enroll in Black Hills State University, where she later graduated with her Bachelor’s in Science. She wasted no time putting her degree to use and became an active volunteer at The Club for Boys in Rapid City for over 25 years. Marguerite’s volunteer efforts were largely focused on teaching the children how to read, write, and enunciate words. Even in her final days, Marguerite was a stickler for proper pronunciation, whether in English or French, and those around her were grateful for the challenge in getting the words correct. Marguerite, a devout Catholic in the Black Hills and Laramie, continued to take communion and say prayer every week. 

Marguerite enjoyed writing letters and found great comfort in communicating with people. Marguerite’s writing style was loquacious as well as descriptive, which made her a great story teller. She proudly kept awards she had received, from volunteering or from her church, that highlighted her mastery of storytelling and giving back to the community. Marguerite appreciated anyone who wrote to her throughout her life and kept every letter, picture, or drawing ever received. Marguerite would often go through her collections of letters and proudly shared information about her family, places visited, people she’d been fortunate to meet, the children she was able to watch grow up, and the kind things people would say about her and her children.

Marguerite’s story doesn’t end here. Her family will continue to carry on her legacy of story telling, pride of our French heritage, enjoying and protecting the Black Hills, eating the desserts, and being advocates and helpers in our respective communities. 

Marguerite is survived by her brother Maurice Chevalier (Dany), sister Marie-France Chevalier, son Aubry Osborne (Kelly), daughter Gaelle Osborne-Chleborad (Mark), countless grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, god children, and a large family all around the globe. 

A public burial service is being held for Marguerite at Pine Lawn Memorial Park & Cremation Gardens located at 4301 Tower Rd, Rapid City, South Dakota 57701 on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 10:30am. The community is invited to attend.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that the community honor Marguerite by giving back to their local communities, via donations, advocacy, or volunteering time to any of the following: Rapid City Club for Boys, Meals on Wheels, Junior Achievement, Feeding South Dakota, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), Rapid City’s People Alliance, ACLU, Disability Rights of South Dakota, HealthCare Reform, or any community need in your local area. 

As Marguerite was a survivor of elder abuse and neglect in a Rapid City Nursing Home, her caregivers and family also ask for continued advocacy and awareness of Health Care Reform in every state for staff, patients, and families. Safe, ethical, and honest care is what everyone deserves, whether as a patient or a worker, and regardless of skin color, ethnicity, religion, sex, age, disability, or social status. Please continue to advocate for changes that positively impact your loved ones, those who care for them, yourself, and those in your community. 

Adieu, Marguerite; ta famille, ici et à l’étranger, pense toujours à toi. Repose en paix dans la terre qui t’a accueillie et où tu as élevé tes enfants. Bisous, Bisous, Bisous.

Translation: Farewell Marguerite, your family here and abroad is still thinking of you. Rest in peace in the land that welcomed you and where you raised your children. Kisses, kisses, kisses.